Gauge Pod options, or Lack thereof?

[tmaclax013]

So I was looking to put a couple aftermarket gauges in my car and the biggest problem that I seem to be running into is the selection.

Now I understand the whole thing about the A-Pillar airbag but I figured there would be a pillar pod(preferably triple) option available but there really isn't. In terms of steering column the b5 seems to be one of the few platforms that doesn't have a dual option for the top side of the steering column and I was kind of curious as to why that was if anyone had an answer?

Ideally I would run a Triple Pillar setup and then have 3 other gauges somewhere else. For the 3 not on the Pillar I was probably just going to do the 3 vent sections in the center of the dash unless somebody has a different idea?

[Royal769sr]

I'm in the process of making some steering column mounted pods. I made 1 for myself to hold my wideband and boost gauge.

It Will nearly look factory when finished, and you can still see all important bits on the dash too.

[tmaclax013]

Any reason there are no aftermarket options for the dual steering column setup?

[getslideways]

The A-Pillar airbag fear tends to get blown out of proportion a bit, as I think people have a misconception of how it works:

[getslideways]

What are you trying to keep tabs on exactly? Information is great, but running 6 extra gauges will likely just get distracting.

Boost and AFR are likely the two with the highest priority.

Remember, " Less is more". You don't want to get to this point lol:

[jimmer009]

Not to thread jack. This is just my idea. But Im looking to runing a single din cd player in my car. That would give plenty of room for 2 maybe 3, 2 5/16 gauges above it. I have seen single din plates that would make a good start

[Gotwake424]

i swear i saw duel guage pods for the steering column very recently while researching W/M kits

[tmaclax013]

The Triple A Pillar would be for Boost, AFR, and something else the 3 in the vents would most likely be for airride monitoring as in PSI for all 4 wheels and the tank

[aysix]

i swear i saw duel guage pods for the steering column very recently while researching W/M kits

There is...I know this because I have one.

Look up dual gauge pod for the b5 passat.

[xalents23]

There is a company that does custom rear view mirror gauges. Link to their site is below and they should be able to do custom gauge installs.



http://www.radar-mirror.com/index.html

[kmikuta]

Center vent DIY, look it up. Cleanest looking gauge setups IMO and the vents remain functional. Keeps the car a bit more sleeper as well, because the drivers next to you won't see them as easily as a pillar pod, especially at night.

[tmaclax013]

I was most likely going to do both lol

[MikeyB3]

A dremel, some patience, time, and a center vent will give you really clean OEM results. Anything you dont look at regularly, toss in the glovebox.

[tmaclax013]

I think I'm going to do the DIY vent pod but does anyone have personal experience with this mod, like how the pods stay in with a quick acceleration or any sort of movement?

[getslideways]

I think I'm going to do the DIY vent pod but does anyone have personal experience with this mod, like how the pods stay in with a quick acceleration or any sort of movement?

since you are using the factory vents as a base, they click in like the factory vents (snug and strong). So they wont have any issue falling out under acceleration, and the built in metal side "spring" keeps the vent from dipping downward. As long as you don't make your center hole too large, the gauge should stay snug in the vent too.

[tmaclax013]

So theres no anchor mechanism just friction around the pod?

[goalieman24]

It just sits in there. You could probably fab something up if you wanted extra piece of mind. Even like a zip tie around the gauge on the inside of the vent would create a lip that would hold it.

But just keep the hole small to start and then very gradually make it big enough to hold the gauge.

[MikeyB3]

if you really take your time, you can cut the hole so it fits snug in there. On mine, you can pull it out, but you actually have to pull. I've never had it come out under any circumstance without purposeful help.

[getslideways]

So theres no anchor mechanism just friction around the pod?

friction is all you need. If the gauge flies out under acceleration, either 1] you cut the hole too big, in which case i guess you could wrap some electric tape around the gauge body to thicken it up, or 2] your s4 has rocket boosters as a means of power.

measure twice, cut once, and you will be fine.

If you were really worried about it you could use the gold "u-bar" locking plate that comes with most gauges (as seen below) on the backside (or just make one), for extra confidence...but 100% not necessary:

[MarlinFoundNemo]

What are you trying to keep tabs on exactly? Information is great, but running 6 extra gauges will likely just get distracting.

Boost and AFR are likely the two with the highest priority.

I've got a boost gauge currently, but what is so important about an AFR gauge? I know it reads the air fuel ratio but is that actually important to know with anything below stage 3?

[getslideways]

If you are stock or running an off the shelf tune, the chances of you needing it are likely low. Its just an extra piece of mind as if your engine started running lean while WOT (due to low fuel pressure, post maf intake leak, etc) the motor could quickly commit suicide.

I know what to expect when going WOT from my boost gauge and AFR gauge, so if in a quick glance i were to see them anywhere outside what I would expect to see I know to back off and save the motor. Thankfully thats never happened, but it did help me track down my faulty egt sensors when the car was sluggish and the AFR was showing really rich fuel levels.

So is it needed? No, its just another diagnostic tool in most cases.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

If you are stock or running an off the shelf tune, the chances of you needing it are likely low. Its just an extra piece of mind as if your engine started running lean while WOT (due to low fuel pressure, post maf intake leak, etc) the motor could quickly commit suicide.

I know what to expect when going WOT from my boost gauge and AFR gauge, so if in a quick glance i were to see them anywhere outside what I would expect to see I know to back off and save the motor. Thankfully thats never happened, but it did help me track down my faulty egt sensors when the car was sluggish and the AFR was showing really rich fuel levels.

So is it needed? No, its just another diagnostic tool in most cases.

Ah okay I understand. Thanks!

[Kenrevo]

I got a 2 pod for the a pillar, that was for the b5 a4/s4 but the fit is terrible. My next project is to take a mold of the pod and the pillar and make one continues piece. I'll try and take pictures tomorrow.

[Schläfer]

Doesn't Podi make a dual pod for the column? I swear I saw it on their site when I bought mine.

[getslideways]

I got a 2 pod for the a pillar, that was for the b5 a4/s4 but the fit is terrible. My next project is to take a mold of the pod and the pillar and make one continues piece. I'll try and take pictures tomorrow.

I picked up one of those A pillar ones that was molded into an entire OEM pillar and wrapped with the OEM fabric. Not sure who sells them now as I got it used but it fits great and almost looks like it is supposed to be there haha

[TheDarkness]

^I've got the same one, I forgot the company name, sure they haven't made them new in over 10 years though

And see if you can spot the "creature" in the pic (which is the main reason I took this photo) Hint...they are supposed to mean good luck

[88ninety9]

There is a company that does custom rear view mirror gauges. Link to their site is below and they should be able to do custom gauge installs.



http://www.radar-mirror.com/index.html

I've seen this before, pretty neat. I intend on diy-ing one of these in the near future. You can hook up up to 14 sensors afr/boost/oil pressure etc. Get rid of that stupid column pod that blocks a shit ton of my cluster

[MacDaddy]

Podi makes a b5 column mount gauge solution, replaces the top oem plastic piece for a factory look.

[getslideways]

^I've got the same one, I forgot the company name, sure they haven't made them new in over 10 years though

And see if you can spot the "creature" in the pic (which is the main reason I took this photo) Hint...they are supposed to mean good luck

Thats the one! Maybe SSP??? My brain is old, so maybe not

As for the pic, I am guessing:

A) A Praying Mantis on the windshield
or
B) A Pterodactyl in the power lines

[bobkatkat]

I have another one of these in the works this time with USB and 12v power for things like radar and phone, along with the EGTs. Still a great location for info displays.

[Gotwake424]

^ Clean!

[MetalMan]

I have another one of these in the works this time with USB and 12v power for things like radar and phone, along with the EGTs. Still a great location for info displays.

That definitely looks pretty legit and clean.

I've got a similar project in the works for the center visor, which uses a 16x2 LCD (red characters on black background) and Arduino. Here are my plans for it:
1) Boost/vacuum (auto-switch, ~5 Hz refresh), and temperature-corrected barometer
2) Oil pressure, including alarm
3) Fuel pressure, possibly with alarm (correlated to boost/vacuum readings)
4) EGT (if I care enough, not a big issue on 1.8T)
5) Turbo timer
6) Maybe have access to OBDII through a dongle

Haven't touched the code or hardware in 3.5 months though . Gotta love when life gets in the way.

[getslideways]

That definitely looks pretty legit and clean.

I've got a similar project in the works for the center visor, which uses a 16x2 LCD (red characters on black background) and Arduino. Here are my plans for it:
1) Boost/vacuum (auto-switch, ~5 Hz refresh), and temperature-corrected barometer
2) Oil pressure, including alarm
3) Fuel pressure, possibly with alarm (correlated to boost/vacuum readings)
4) EGT (if I care enough, not a big issue on 1.8T)
5) Turbo timer
6) Maybe have access to OBDII through a dongle

Haven't touched the code or hardware in 3.5 months though . Gotta love when life gets in the way.

Would love to follow a build thread for your gauge project

[MetalMan]

One of these days when I hop back on that project I can throw some words and pics together. Presently the project only exists as bits of code and a breadboard, but so far I have menu cycling, boost/vac display, compensated barometric pressure display, and framework for turbo timer implementation.
I will admit that I received inspiration from al3k87's "Boost Box" project in the B7 section:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...1#post10487488
He was nice enough to post his code publicly, so some of my boost/barometer code stems from his.

[vavJETTAw36]

Cleanest gauge option. And you can add other sensors






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[M1NDCRlME]

There is...I know this because I have one.

Look up dual gauge pod for the b5 passat.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This. I have the same one. The texture doesn't match and the shape is a little off. I just heated it up and formed it around the colum surround. One of these days I may get it done in carbon fiber just to make it look better. I think I got mine from Summit for somewhere around $25.00

[TheDarkness]

it's SPP I think...and yes, A is correct. Yet I didn't see B until you mentioned it, sweet.

here: http://www.audiworld.com/forums/s4-r...night-1409962/

Thats the one! Maybe SSP??? My brain is old, so maybe not

As for the pic, I am guessing:

A) A Praying Mantis on the windshield
or
B) A Pterodactyl in the power lines

[88ninety9]

Cleanest gauge option. And you can add other sensors






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That's the one I linked I think. Up to like 14 sensors. Glad to see it in a b5, was curious as to the fitment..

[vavJETTAw36]

That's the one I linked I think. Up to like 14 sensors. Glad to see it in a b5, was curious as to the fitment..

Easy install. Only complaint is brightness level doesn't match. But I don't mind. Oh and if you're are wearing polarized lenses you cannot see it.


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[Ripcord]

http://audisrs.com/archive/mod-b5-rs...__t_23411.html

Boost gauge in place of the Voltmeter.